Understanding the real political backgrounds of Gulliver's Travels is much more interesting than essential. What is important is to recognize the way Swift uses satire as an example of characteristics found in all countries, at any time in history. For example, throughout Lilliput, Gulliver was exposed to more allusions to contemporary political events than in any other part of the Travels. Jonathan Swifts, Gulliver's Travels s an exceptional example of an author targeting the various satirical events within the novel with the additional help of irony. The tale's will begin, as Lemuel Gulliver discusses his youth and childhood. Gulliver was the third of five sons growing up in a small estate in Nottinghamshire, England. Lemuel was then sent to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen to study diligently, and soon he became a surgeon's apprentice. After working as a surgeon on several ships, Gulliver marries Mrs. Mary Burton. However, soon after the marriage, his good friend, Bates dies, giving Gulliver the idea of returning to work on a ship. He joins Captain William Prichard on the Antelope and goes to the South Sea on May 4th, 1699.
             After departure, the ship comes upon a deathly storm that kills several of the ship's sailors and leaves the rest of them ill. In the means of the violent storm, Gulliver is tossed into the water and the ship is wrecked. Gulliver awakens tied to the ground on his back, unable to move his hands, legs, or neck. "I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick, tied down I the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my body, from my armpits to my thighs. I could only look upwards, the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended mine eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but in the posture I lay, could see noth...